Judge grants more time for psych evaluation of man charged with extortion

By Peggy Revell on November 21, 2017.

NEWS FILE PHOTO
The Medicine Hat Provincial Court is seen in this Nov. 6 file photo. Two voir dires were heard in Aaron Hotchen's drug and firearms trial on Monday, Dec. 3, 2018. The judge ruled on one that day, while the ruling on the other will take place Tuesday.

prevell@medicinehatnews.com @MHNprevell

A four-week extension for further psychiatric evaluation was granted Tuesday for a Medicine Hat man accused of violent extortion, possibly linked to a recent homicide.

Robert S. Hoefman made a brief appearance before the Medicine Hat Court via closed-circuit television from the Calgary Remand Centre, with information from the Southern Alberta Forensic Psychiatry Centre stating that more time is needed for a proper fitness assessment due to his state.

This extension was granted by a judge, with Hoefman’s next appearance set for Dec. 21.

Police announced the arrest of 55-year-old Hoefman on Nov. 9 on the single count of extortion, with his first court appearance that same day and a request granted for a warrant that covered five days of assessment at SAFPC.

Since then Hoefman has secured legal counsel of Medicine Hat lawyer, Lyndon Heidinger.

At the time of the arrest, police say that the extortion included severe threats and some severe violence, and was directed at more than one person and there were general threats towards the community.

Police began their investigation into the extortion on Oct. 10.

Then, on Oct. 11, the body of James Satre was found near his home, in an alleyway by the intersection of Mill Street and Smelter Avenue. Police declared Satre’s death a homicide. On Oct. 23, police received additional information potentially linking the two investigations and also “raised concerns that there is a threat to cause death to unknown citizens.”

A possible link between the cases was publicly announced, and police issued a public warning — although police say the risk is now “substantially diminished.”

Police have not yet definitively confirmed the two files are connected, he said, and they continue to investigate both. Hoefman is considered a “person of interest” for the homicide.

A publication ban currently prevents publishing information that could identify the victim(s).